International Bicycle Design Competition

激动！
我看好的那车 拿第一了！
The 13th IBDC (International Bicycle Design Competition) has consisted of 938 outstanding entries from 55 nations around the global. This professional international event, which calls innovative designs from all over the world every year, is hosted by Department of Industrial Technology, Ministry of Economic Affairs, R.O.C.. Not only it has brought about new concepts and thinking models through outlook, structure and functions, it allows us to gain a much clear insight into different life styles and trends from the nations involved, hence it injects new life into the bicycle products.

The 13th IBDC international panel committee has selected 21 entries into the finalist since August last year. Regrettably there was 1 piece of design, which was unable to reach its completion for the final round. Therefore at the end, only the remaining 20 contenders completed for the 500,000 NTD rewards.

In this year's finalist entries, there are designers from Taiwan, Mainland China, Romania, Colombia, India, Slovakia, and Germany. All the results were announced during award ceremony held on the 17th March (the opening day of the 2009 Taipei international Cycle Show).

The Grand Prize winner is the"±X" designed by Peng-Yueh Hsu, from Taiwan, and two other designers Hongyu Sun and Kun Shao, from China. The design"±X" made his way through the critical judges, and won himself the Grand Prize with 500,000 NTD. "±X" bike can be transformed into 3 different forms according to the needs of riders. This bike combines functionalities and recreational fun. The simple mechanism allows easy transformation without using any complicated tools.

The winner of Second Prize, "ANYTIME", also winner of the Giant Prize is designed by the last year Grand Prize winner Larry Chen .,ANYTIME is a folding bike with a removable power assistant unit called “power pack”. The external mounted power pack design integrates a motor, a control unit and, a battery. It allows users to remove and install with a quick-release mechanism. One can have the bike with power pack for daily commute, or without power pack for weekend exercise. The front and rear wheels are positioned paralleled to each other after fully folded, of which also allows for towing the bike whilst walking. It is a commuting and exercise equipment perfect for people who live in big cities and don't have enough spaces at home. An Excellent Prize winner, also won himself the Merida Prize, "WinSolar", is design by Chun -Tung Chen and Kuoh-Siang Chen, WinSolar is an intelligent green-powered bicycle. It stores electric ties transformed by wind energy, solar energy, shock energy and pedalling power collected during normal ridings. A spoiler covered with solar panel is affixed below the handles of the bike to produce a lifting force for lightening the overall weight load of the bike. All the 3 design winning entries above have been developed into a real bicycle by CHC, which made the winner overwhelmingly; it is like a dream comes true!

The Grand Prize winner



±X Model vs ±X Prototype

The winner of Second Prize



ANYTIME Model vs ANYTIME Prototype

The winner of Merida Prize



WinSolar Model vs WinSolar Prototype

There are two design product from last year, one is the Third Prize "EVERGLIDE" which is an innovative design that integrates a bicycle with a backpack. The bicycle itself can be folded down into an attached backpack, making it packable and still mobile. The integrated solution satisfies all kind of needs for short-distance cyclists. The second generation EVERGLIDE is improved from its first generation, the diameter of the wheel is increased from 10 inches to 12 inches to make the riding more stable. The weight of the model is also being reduced to make the folding time less than before. It not only satisfied the traveler, but also made the riding more convenient. There is also another Excellent Prize "FREE LOCK"，The second generation FREE LOCK continue its first design on its innovative anti-theft solution. The frame and the saddle can be uniquely turned into a locking device, which cyclists won't have to bring with them anymore. FREE LOCK is suitable on all kinds of fences, railings or poles found in the city. The geometric shape is smartly formed, and its moulded locking system together with the traditional bicycle formation, made the bicycle stronger, more convenient and a much more attractive city bike. These innovative designs are most welcome for bicycle companies to take into production, or being recreated by the concept made.



EVERGLIDE First generation vs EVERGLIDE Second generation


FREE LOCK First generation vs FREE LOCK Second generation

In the past, the bicycle was thought a sport article or transportation. However, it is getting to be a life-added product. The design style was transformed from traditional bionic model, streamline shape and pure functional form into the recent dressing design and vogue and simplify in this year. The bicycle industry design has been getting mature. We hope the IBDC can continuously lead the world bicycle design to be a vogue main stream.